Gum massaging device



July 20, 1954 F. W. BILETH GUM .MASSAGING DEVICE Filed March 24, 1951 01:5 iNVENTOR. fian} 1455a Z655,

de ty.

Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED ,STATES .IPATENT OFFICE GUMJMASSAGINGDEVICE 'Frank W. Bileth, Battle Greek, Mich.

' Application March 24, 1951, Serial'No. 217357 6 Claims.

This invention relates broadly tomassaging equipment, andin its specificphasesto a new and improved gum massaging device for gently massaginghuman gums without any'irritating sliding movement of the massagingelements upon the gums, thereby obtaining a very gentle massaging actionsimilar-to that which may *be effected with-the tips of the humanfingers.

A few so-called gum massaging deviceshave been proposed in thepast, butthose devices have universally been of thebrushing or rubbing type. Thatcompletelyoverloolis the principles of" true massaging actionwhichrequires that the surface of the massager in contact with the surface tobe massaged remain in relatively fixed position 'while substantiallynon-brushing massaging movement takes place. Then by moving the massagerto onenew location after another this same ymassaging movement can berepeated over and over. It was a recognition'of thisproblem, and

"the lack of an adequate solution for same; which lead to the conceptionand developmentof the present invention.

1 Accordinglyamongthe-objects of the "present invention is the'provisionof a highly practical, simple, and inexpensive device "for:attaining the desired end.

In carrying out the above end; a plurality of stocky, resilient pillarsof soft rubber orthe like are mounted, in similar location'tothe-bristles of a toothbrush, on the-front "end of a relatively rigidhandle, and a further object; is tozprovide ,.these pillars withfree'ends which areradially exreleasing the pressure, effectivemassageis'ah tained with no irritating sliding-or-brushing of thepillars upon the gum.'- Upon release of-the pressing in question, thepillarends of course return to their normal form and thus produce afurther massaging action.

Another object of the invention is to give the -free ends of the pillarsashallow concave: form,

resulting, in a fiattening'out of said'ends. when pressed against thegum, said@fiattening-,,out; and

-,the following return to normalrshapeaserying to effectively and gentlymassage the gum.

Yet another object is to still further increase the efliciency of themassaging pillars by making novel provision whereby they may readilytilt laterally during use, thereby more readily conforming-to the-shapeof the gum and facilitating "massaging action.

"Still further objects and advantages of this massaging device willappear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing'and related ends, the invention,then, consists=of the meanshereinafterfully described and particu-=larly pointed out-in the claims, the annexed drawing and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out theinvention, such disclosed means illustrating, however,-but several ofvarious ways in which the principle of the invention maybe used.

In the drawing: *Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a preferred form of thepresent massaging device.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 1.

"Figures Sand 4 are sectional views taken on lines 3-4 and 4--l ofFigure2, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

*Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 4 but showing slightmodifications.

Figure 7 is a front end view illustrating the pillarsexpanded at theirfree ends and sprung to tilted positions.

' Figure 8 is a sectional perspective view showing adifferent shapewhich the pillars may have.

Preferences have been shown in the drawing and will be specificallydescribed, but it is to be understood-that variations may be made withinthe scope 'ofthe invention as claimed. Then, too,

= it is to beunderstood that'the word resilient as I herein used,comprehends the use of rubber, synthetic rubber, or othersuitable-material having --the-resilient and pliable characteristics ofthe kind-of rubber commonly known as soft rubber or moderately softrubber.- Furthermore,-re-

latively rigid as applied to-the handle is not intended to imply thatsaid handle has no yield- "ability. It may be formed from any of thematerials commonly used, for toothbrush handles, or

from any other suitable material.

Arelatively rigid handle isshown at Ill, said handle preferably,although not necessarily, hav- 7 ing anofiset H.- Cemented or'otnerwisesecured against the inner side of handle, at the front end portion ofthe latter, is a resilient base I?! whiclrmay, for example, be about oneand threequarters inches long, three-quarters inches wide, andone-eighth-inch thick.

Integral with the outer sideof this base 32 are the resilient, stockymassaging pillars 153. These pillars" it may, for

ihstancabe-from %;=to' e g in length 'ameter, and spaced-apart about 2".The illustrative dimensions are for a massager ordinarily suited foradult use. *Forohildremsmaller dimensions may be used.

Two straight rows of five pillars i3, have been shown, but location ofthe pillars in straight rows is not essential, nor is that particularnumber of pillars. Furthermore, while the pillars iii of Figures 1 to 7are cylindrical, this shape is not essential and Figure 8 isillustrative of one of the many other cross-sectional shapes which maybe used. In this view, the pillar lSc is square in cross-section and allcorners are rounded as seen at I312.

The outer or free end of each pillar l3 or 13a is blunt and is radiallyexpansible when pressed against the gum, as seen in Figure '7; and saidend will of course return to its original shape when the pressure isrelieved. Thus, by alternately pressing against the handle and relievingthe pressure thereon when using the device, the free ends of the pillarswill alternately expand and contract. In so doing, they gently massagethe gum. Moreover, as the pillar ends expand, they will gently pinch thegum portions between them, exerting a further gentle massaging action.It is preferable when using the device, to not only press it against thegum and hold it in substantially fixed contact position at each point ofmassaging, but to give it a slight rocking and/or rotary motion in orderto obtain still more effective massaging action.

In the specific construction shown, the free end of each pillar [3 (ori3a) is formed with a shallow concave recess Hi extending almost to theperiphery of the pillar. Surrounding this concave recess I9 is acontinuous rounded rib l5. Inwardly, this rib l5 merges into the wall ofthe recess 14. Outwardly, the rib l5 merges into the peripheral surfaceof the pillar. allow the pillar ends to flatten out more easily and thusinsure the desired radial expansion of the free ends of the pillarswithout undue pressure, and rounding of the ribs 15 prevents them fromirritating the gum.

To permit the pillars I3 or [301 to easily tilt laterally as shown inFigure 7 to allow the device to adapt itself to the various gum shapeswhile facilitating massaging action, the base I2 is recessed and thusmade more yieldable at the inner end of each pillar. In Figures 3 and 4,conical recesses it are shown, with their apexes extending slightly intothe pillars. In Figure 5, shallow cup-like recesses H are shown of adiameter somewhat greater than that of the pillars. In

Figure 6, the recesses it! are in the form of continuous channels inconcentric relation with the inner ends of the pillars, leavingresilient piers l9 axially alined with said pillars. The gross diameterof each channel is is preferably somewhat greater than the diameter ofthe base or inner end of the pillar to facilitate moderate tilting ofthe pillars under massaging pressure and action.

From the above detailed description of several forms of the invention,it will be seen that novel and advantageous provisions have been madefor attaining the desired ends, and while preferences in construction ofthe massaging elements have been disclosed, it is nevertheless to beunderstood that minor changes may be made to those elements withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as shown and described.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of those explained, change being made as regards the massagingdevice therein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or The recesses Hi the equivalent of such stated meansbe employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A gum massaging device comprising a relatively rigid handle, and amultiplicity of firm bodied resilient stocky pillars projecting from oneside of said handle in spaced relation with each other, said devicehaving a hollow portion at the base of said pillars which facilitatesyieldable bodily tilting of same when lateral pressure is exerted onthem, said resilient stocky pillars also having blunt free ends thewhole area of which is adapted to contact the gum and also be radiallyexpansible by pressure against the gum; whereby the whole end of saidpillars will provide massaging action while the expansion of said pillarends will further gently massage the gum and will gently pinch portionsof the gum between said ends.

2. A gum massaging device comprising a relatively rigid handle, aresilient base secured to the front end portion of said handle, and amultiplicity of resilient stocky pillars integral with one side of saidbase and projecting therefrom in spaced relation, said base havingrecesses at the inner ends of said resilient stocky pillars, permittingsaid pillars to yieldably tilt when lateral pressure is exerted on thehandle while holding the free ends of said pillars pressed against thegum, each of said resilient stocky pillars having a blunt free end ofextensive area and of slightly concave form; whereby when the free endsof a multiplicity of said pillars are forcibly pressed against the gumby pressure upon said handle, the concave form of said free ends willflatten out, resulting in radial massaging expansion of said free endsand in gentle pinching of the gum between them.

3. A gum massaging device comprising a relatively rigid handle, aresilient base having an inner side secured against one side of saidhandle at the front portion of the latter, said base having an outerside substantially unidirectional with said inner side, and amultiplicity of resilient stocky pillars integral with said outer sideof said base, said pillars having blunt free ends of extensive area tobe pressed against the gum, said base having recesses at the inner endsof said pillars, permitting said pillars to laterally tilt when lateralpressure is exerted on said handle while holding said blunt free endspressed against the gum.

4. A gum massaging device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said recessesextend into said inner ends of said pillars.

5. A gum massaging device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said recessesare of greater diameter than said inner ends of said pillars.

6. A gum massaging device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said recessesare in the form of continuous channels and in concentric relation withsaid inner ends of said pillars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,405,279 Cassedy Jan. 31, 1922 1,861,347 Johnson May 31, 19322,164,219 McGerry June 27, 1939 2,294,900 Fuller Sept. 3, 1942 2,364,205Fuller Oct. 5, 1944

